Taking stock of a successful "experiment" - Aufhof concludes: "A new door will open"

On the basis of a corresponding council mandate, the state capital ofHanoveris examininghowa concept for a permanent solution that combines the positive findings from the one-year experimental phase could look. Previous partners Hannoverimpuls(hi) and Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HsH)are also in favor of a permanent solution and are highly committed to it.

When aufhof opened its doors in June 2023, enthusiasm was initially muted. Many visitors could not imagine that this project would last for long. And yet: "The aufhof experiment has been a complete success. Even after the first few weeks, it was clear to us that we had created something really great here. That's why we are currently looking for a permanent alternative," sums up MayorBelit Onay. "This will allow us to make an important contribution to revitalizing the city. And we are complying with the wish of politicians to continue this project."

The Banksy exhibition, which alone attracted around 110,000 visitors, was certainly a major draw in recent months. The pop-up youth area, events for school classes, Hannomania and the e-sports area were also well received. The hackathons and a good 170 workshops and talks at HsH showed how well the various formats were received by the public.

Professor Josef von Helden, President of Hannover University of Applied Sciences andArts,states that "joint solutions for the problems of our time have been developed, tested and immediately implemented with the right partners." He looks to the future: "We will now start a participation process to develop a sustainable concept for the long-term establishment of innovercity."

Everyone involved in the project agrees that aufhof has developed into an important place in the city center at the fragile interface between the central shopping district and the old town.Doris Petersen, Managing Director of hi: "aufhof has set new standards as a platform for dialogue and a meeting place and has attracted attention nationwide. Not only the events themselves, but also the neighboring retailers and restaurants have benefited from the project. We still have many ideas for the future to further strengthen Hanover as a central location for innovation, creativity and social dialog."

City Planning Councillor Thomas Vielhaber isstill enthusiastic about the project's appeal: "Overall, aufhof was a temporary project that avoided a large vacancy in the city centre and a place where urban development and building culture, digitalization and science, culture and citizen participation, innovation and business came together. Everything was seamlessly linked to key projects from our integrated city center concept and we as a city were able to come to the citizens with our topics. At the same time, there was space for all interested parties to present and discuss themselves and their topics. The aufhof always surprised us with new, creative formats. For us as an administration, it is therefore clear that although one door is closing, another door will be opening."

As the final invoice has not yet been issued, the total costs have not yet been determined. The costs are mainly borne by the state capital of Hanover, the Ministry of Science and Culture and Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Additional income was also generated by renting out the space and through sponsorship contributions (e.g. from enercity).

The state capital, the HsH and hannoverimpuls would like to thank all supporters, without whom the project would not have been possible.

For LHH and hi:

• 145 events (LHH and rentals), often all-day
• Auditorium: 245 events, often university, LHH, many rentals (e.g. health weeks), numerous cooperations with cultural institutions (State Opera, TAK, hmtmh, Orchester im Treppenhaus, Forum Augustino Steffani) and Volkswagen Foundation, HAZ Forum etc.
• Showroom: 30 exhibitions
• Around 110,000 visitors to the Banksy exhibition
• Around 75,000 visitors

For the HsH:

• A total of 382 events:
• 167 Workshops/Talks
• 56 Lectures
• 19 Industry Meetups
• 55 Seminars
• 50 other events such as vernissages, award ceremonies, etc.
• 25 Brainfood Talks
• 296 exhibition days
• including the above plus 1 festival and hackathons: 31,560 visitors.

HI-SCORE Museum:

• Open 48 hours a week, great response nationwide, 4,500 event visitors (e.g. school classes) plus well over 100,000 online guests
• A total of around 53,000 visitors
• more than 200 exhibits

More than 20 larger events, such as tournaments, cosplay competitions and smaller tournaments and community meetings almost every weekend.